20 injured as police fire teargass in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 5 (UNI) At least 20 persons were injured when police fired teargas shells and resorted to a baton charge to disperse violent demonstrators, who were raising pro-freedom slogans at Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital of the Jammu and Kashmir.

As the 24-hour-long fierce gun battle, in which ten people, including two fidayeen of Al-Mansoorain and seven security personnel were killed, came to an end, large number of people gathered at Maisuma, Kokerbazar and Lal Chowk.

Raising pro-freedom slogans, the processionists were demanding that bodies of the slain militants be handed over to them for last rites.

They also pelted stones forcing police to fire teargas shells in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

However, the agitators regrouped and pelted stones on police and passing vehicles at several places in the civil lines.

Official sources said 20 persons, including some police personnel, were injured in the incident.

Panic gripped in the area again when weapon of a security jawan went off accidentally. Security forces, mediapersons and others ran for cover after they mistook it firing from a third fidayeen.

However, there were only two fidayeen who were killed by the security forces.

Shopkeepers were seen visiting their shops after the area was declared safe by the police.

UNI BAS VD BS1808